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Overview

Carnival Ride

The pivotal American Idol moment for Carrie Underwood was when she teased her hair to the heavens and sang Heart's "Alone," belting out the power ballad with sincerity and a natural flair for drama. It was the surest sign that Carrie wasn't merely the country star the show gladly pigeonholed her as, that she was a pop star by any measure. Of course, the great irony was that Carrie had little interest in being a pop star; she wanted to be a country singer, but the sheer magnitude of American Idol meant that she was already a pop star who needed to cross over to country, a reverse of the usual crossover move. Underwood pulled off that tricky maneuver with a deceptive ease on her 2005 debut, Some Hearts, which turned into a smash success, turning sextuple platinum at a time when many albums struggle to go gold, even surpassing the sales of the original Idol, Kelly Clarkson. Such success raised the bar for her 2007 follow-up, Carnival Ride. Traditionally, second albums are a place where artists consolidate their strengths or expand their reach, either with an eye toward artistic growth or commercial success, and Carrie chooses the former option, creating a record that is more purely country than her debut. She dials down the pageantry drama that peppered her debut -- there are no Diane Warren songs, for instance -- and plays up her humble, all-American persona, singing songs about small towns and big dreams, even attempting to kick up some dirt and grit on the one-night-stand anthem "Last Name," which is Miranda Lambert filtered through Shania Twain. And one of the striking things about Carnival Ride is how completely Carrie Underwood has stepped into the void that Shania and Faith Hill left behind: the small-town girl made good but who hasn't left her roots behind. In other words, she hasn't made the big pop diva move that Shania did with Up! or Faith with Cry; she's planted herself firmly within country. Now, Carrie's country is hardly traditionalist -- despite the lack of Diane Warren tunes, there are plenty of power ballads here, along with light drum loops that aren't commonly heard in Nashville -- but her approach is completely contemporary country, in how it blurs the borders between country and arena rock, something that's perfect for a girl who made her first big splash singing Heart. Sound and feel do mean a lot, but country records really survive on the strength of their songs, and the remarkable thing about Carnival Ride is that it's stronger song for song than Some Hearts, some of this due to Carrie herself, who bears four songwriting credits here, often in conjunction with some permutation of Steve McEwan and Hillary Lindsey, who pen a bunch of other tunes here. The songs may veer just a bit too close to the big power ballads, but they all work as strong pieces of commercial country, built on surging melodies (all the better for Carrie to belt) and lyrics that play into Underwood's small-town girl persona but are also open-ended enough to be relatable. All this very well may be more calculating than it appears, but the appealing thing about Carnival Ride is that it plays so smoothly and assuredly that you just go along for the ride, especially because Carrie sells these songs completely, making the clichés and cornball phrases believable. It's a gift that Shania had, but she always seemed larger than life. In contrast, Carrie Underwood only sounds larger than life, and she still comes across like the girl next door despite her massive success, and this lingering sense of innocence -- however constructed for stage it may be -- gives an album as big and shiny as Carnival Ride the appearance of a genuine heart, something that no other big country-pop album has had since the glory days of Come on Over.

Editorial Reviews

It’s a straight-up Carrie Underwood album, and a very good one, with a handful of romps and laments that exist mainly to set the stage for the big-voiced, ’80s-influenced, Southern-accented power ballads she sings so well.

New York Times - Kelefa Sanneh

Carnival Ride is more country and therefore more confident. She goes for the girl-next-door cred long since given up by Faith Hill in uptempo gems like "The More Boys I Meet" ("The more I love my dog").

Rolling Stone - Rob Sheffield

Carnival Ride covers its bases impeccably, from the roof-raising opener ''Flat on the Floor'' to the gorgeous, torchy ballad ''I Know You Won't'' and the already-massive anthem ''So Small.'' [B+]

Entertainment Weekly - Leah Greenblatt

As on her previous album, Underwood's voluptuous soprano is the main event.... There's no denying the power and beauty of Underwood's instrument, a strapping and supple voice akin to those of Yearwood and Martina McBride.

Washington Post - Bill Friskies-Warren

[Grade: B] "Carnival Ride" goes down extraordinarily easy - lots of lush, inspirational ballads that make the most of her gorgeous voice and a handful of rock-tinged up-tempo numbers about getting out of town or following your dreams.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

I think the hit song "So Small" is brilliantly written, and could be a great song if Carrie did not try to "belt it out" in such a high key. At first it was ok, however after awahile it's really tiring to hear her straining her voice like that.

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More than 1 year ago

I absolutely love the new Carrie Underwood CD! There are a great variety of songs, including some sad, hopeful, and of corse some good old love songs. I really think Carrie's voice has matured and her talent is really shown on this CD. I would really recommend this CD to anyone who loves country!

Guest

More than 1 year ago

Carrie hits the ground running! She is absolutely adorable and an amazing singer. You have to hear each of these songs because if you don't you will feel very left out of everything!

Guest

More than 1 year ago

I love Carrie Underwood's new CD Carnival Ride. Her vocals are awesome and as usual, her songs are ones you not just hear, but they really touch your heart or make you just want to sing along.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

You cannot ask for anything lese except that me the music is excellent.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

Carrie Underwood really impressed me with her first release, Some Hearts, and this CD just continued it for me. With her winning a TV show I was a bit skeptical, but she has shown me with each song on both CD's that she is and deserves to be a star! I think this CD really let her show herself!

Guest

More than 1 year ago

Yeah, did not like this cd at ALL!!!I like country alot it's all I listen to but this really was disappointing!

Guest

More than 1 year ago

I love this album. I have listened to all the tracks and I cannot fine one that I do not like. The problem is I can't pick a favorite. So many of the songs are my favorite. There is not a dud in the bunch. This album is better than Some Hearts and will out sell it. The songs are better and Carrie's amazing voice is even more amazing.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

This is amazing!!!! I thought she wouldn't be able to top her first CD, but she did. Carrie has an amazing voice, and she keeps getting better !!!! I highly suggest this CD

Guest

More than 1 year ago

I have already listened to full versions of the songs and love every song on this CD. This is a great CD. Give it a try and you won't regret it.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

Carnival Ride is fantastic. A wonderful CD with outstanding songs. I love it. Thought nothing could top her Some Hearts album but this is as good or better.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

It's possibly the best song every written. It is the star of what is possibly the best album that will ever be put out by an American Idol. Can she out do herself next time? I don't know, but I do know she out did her last album and 'Some Hearts' was great.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

Based on 40 sec clips of each song that I have heard, this CD is going to be fantastic. Her voice is beyond comparison. A voice like this comes along about once a decade. The early previews from those who have heard the entire CD have also been very good. Sounds like a winner.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

When Carrie was ten years old she met Garth Brooks at one of his concerts and told him she would one day sing a duet with him, she met him again at the Oklahoma Centennial Celebration Nov 16,2007, will they sing a duet? When Carrie was a teenager she hung out in the dugout with the country music stars playing the celebrity charity softball game at the CMA fest in Nashville, this past summer she participated as a player in that same event. When Carrie was growing up she idolized Randy Travis and when she had a concert with him a year ago where he was supposed to be the opener for her, she cried when she met him and insisted she open for him. Her new album has "I Told You So" on it, written by Randy Travis. There's no doubt Carrie loves country music and it's traditions. Carnival Ride is awonder with Carrie's magical vocals, she delivers this country album with a confident stamp of, this is who I am. As she sings in Wheel of the World, "God put us here on this Carnival Ride..." This CD is Carrie's ride, get on board folks, you won't regret it!

Guest

More than 1 year ago

Hard to believe it's possible but I think it's even better than Some Hearts.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

What a wonderful album! I cannot stop listening to it! Carrie really soars on this album, and takes it to a whole new level from her first album. It is fun, upbeat, and warm, and her vocals have never sounded better. This is one ride you definetly want to get on.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

I loved Carrie Underwood's first CD, and I love this one, too! She has a power in her voice that will undoubtedly keep her on the rise for years to come!

Guest

More than 1 year ago

the song 'So Small' is not small at all its possibly the greatest song i have ever heard .Carrie has defintly out done her self and i hope she continues to put out amazing songs.

Guest

More than 1 year ago

This cd has nothing but hits on it!! I loved her first CD & this one is great too!! Keep up the great work Carrie!!

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